A job search imposter
This article may be familiar to you, as the topic struck a chord in one of my LinkedIn posts recently.
Indeed, imposter syndrome seems a popular topic on social media and a term I expect you’ve read about.
It’s a feeling many high achievers have that they are not worthy of their accomplishments and the enduring doubt that the same can’t be achieved in new situations.
Typical hallmarks include:
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Doubting your skills and accomplishments : You may downplay your abilities and achievements, attributing your success to luck or external factors.
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Fear of being exposed : You may have a nagging fear that someone will eventually discover you're not as competent as they think you are.
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Negative self-talk : You may constantly criticise yourself and focus on your mistakes, overlooking your strengths.
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Discounting positive feedback : You may brush off compliments or praise, believing you don't deserve them.
If you’d like to learn more, Psychology Today provides some good resources.
It's a common story, in my calls with job seekers, with experiences that look something like this:
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A successful career, sometimes with compromises that move away from core values.
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Dismissed for business reasons.
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Among the process of emotions, an element of self-blame and concern about how much they had to do with their dismissal.
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When their search proves more complex than expected, a feeling that maybe that concern has substance and they aren’t as effective as they believed.
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Compounded by ghosting, no feedback, and no return from applications and recruiters.
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Which then feeds into their approach, with negative self-talk that informs how they come across.
The good news there are steps you can take to either mitigate or overcome a syndrome that is an imposter in your job search.
Go through your CV. Think about your recent roles - your quantifiable achievements, your impact, how you led, how you helped. Write these down, then if they aren’t in your CV, add them in.
Talk to your peers. Your former colleagues, your clients, your suppliers. Ask them how you added to their lives. Ask them to write you a LinkedIn recommendation. Or even a video testimonial. Evidence of your capability, and something you can market yourself with.
Form a board of directors for your job search . #OpenToWork people in a similar sphere you can catch up with once a week. Share stories, explore how you can improve, and keep each other accountable. Don’t dwell on the negatives that happen to you - these are out of your control - in case that negativity feeds your conversations.
Help others in a similar situation. You may surprised by how much knowledge is common to you while uncommon to others.
Consider mindfulness and challenge negative thoughts. These thoughts are of you, but they don’t have to be you.
Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. A good way to practise feeling good about yourself.
Consider asking for professional help . A qualified professional can provide individualised support, whether therapy or counselling.
And when you encounter those hallmarks of imposter syndrome, think back on these objectively provable points to help eliminate the negative self-talk.
Thanks for reading.
Regards,
Greg
